Self-bailing formed skin/scuba diver{40 s float

ABSTRACT

A diver&#39;&#39;s float for moving over the surface of the water to the point at which skin or scuba diving is to take place. The float is propelled by hand or a double ended paddle and has floatation consisting of a water tight compartment and foam to maintain its buoyancy. Compartments are provided both wet and dry for containing the diver&#39;&#39;s equipment while in transit. The seat for the diver is molded to fit the buttocks and legs and is provided with a hinged backrest for supporting the diver&#39;&#39;s back.

United States Patent Grabenauer 1 Mar. 21, 197 2 54 SELF-BAILING FORMEDSKIN/SCUBA 2,999,254 9/1961 DIVERS FLOAT 2,417,508 3/1947 1,140,4695/1915 [72] Inventor: Roy E. Grabenauer, 5250 Sky Parkway, 1 389 3611/1932 Sacramento, Calif. 95823 2 376 752 5/1945 [22] Flled: 1970Primary Examiner-Andrew 1-1. Farrell [211 App]. No.: 6,226Attorney-Alexander B. Blair 57 ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl ..9/3 I l [51] Int.Cl. ..B63c 9/06 A diver's float for i g er the surface of the water tothe [58] Field of Search ..9/3, 5, 6; 297/458 Point at which skin orscuba diving is to take Place The float is v propelled by hand or adouble ended paddle and has floatation 56] References Cited consistingof a water tight compartment and foam to maintain its buoyancy.Compartments are provided both wet and dry I UNITED STATES PATENTS forcontaining the divers equipment while in transit. The seat for the diveris molded to fit the buttocks and legs and is pro- 3,497,887 3/1970Bureau ..9/6 vided with a hinged backrest for supporting the diver'sback 2,970,638 2/1961 Halter 906,261 12/1908 Morzinski ..9/5 X 10Claims, 9 Drawing Figures 27 4 22 3s 1 1 2W 0' J F- Ell= O PATENTEDMAR21I972 SHEET 1 0F 2 MN m P! Q Q I'll ' INVENTOR. 0) f. 69/15 [NA (/5?Arromvey.

PATENTEUHARZI I972 3.649.977

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ATTORNEY.

SELF-BAILING FORMED SKIN/SCUBA DIVER 'S FLOAT BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to floatsfor carrying a skin diver and his gear to the point at which scubadiving will take place.

Summary of the Invention The present invention relates to a unitaryfloat structure having a seat formed to fit the buttocks and legs of thediver and further having both wet and dry compartments for carrying thedivers equipment. The float acts as a headquarters for the diver toreturn to between dives and has compartments for fish and other materialthe diver collects from the water. Further it is extremely stable in themost adverse water and weather to provide reliability and assurance ofprogressing homeward with safety for the diver, equipment and take viacompartments centered and below line of free board.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a float structure fora diver which is self contained, stable and has compartments for theequipment used by the diver.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the followingspecification when considered in light of the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a top plan view of theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal, vertical section taken along the line 44 ofFIG. I looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged transverse cross section taken along the line 5-5of FIG. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows; FIG. 6 is an enlargedtransverse cross section taken along the line 66 of FIG. 2 looking inthe direction of the arrows;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged transverse cross section taken along the line 7-7of FIG. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged transverse cross section taken along the line 8-8of FIG. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 9 is an enlarged transverse cross section taken along the line 9-9of FIG. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings indetail wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughoutthe several figures, the reference numeral 10 indicates generally a selfbailing formed skin and scuba divers float constructed in accordancewith the invention.

The divers float 10 is ofgenerally tubular form and includes an elongatesemicircular hull 11 joined along its peripheral edges to a semicircularupper enclosure 12 and an intermediate deck D. The hull ll, enclosure 12and deck D may be formed of any suitable light weight material such asfiber glass, aluminum and combinations of these materials and inflatableneoprene or rubber. The bow 13 of the float 10 has a lifting handle 14secured thereto. A lifting handle 15 is secured to the deck D adjacentthe stern 16 of the float 10 and with the handle 14 serves as a meansfor lifting the float 10 or moving it from place to place when out ofthe water. The deck D slopes upwardly from the side edges thereof at anangle of approximately 15 to the horizontal to promote drainage.

The float 10 intermediate the bow 13 and stern 16 is provided with apassenger compartment 17 having a buttocks receiving seat 18 which isformed to closely fit the buttocks of the diver. A pair of oppositelydisposed formfitting leg rests 19, 20 extend forwardly from the seat 18to closely fit and support the legs of the diver. A partition 21separates the leg rests 19, 20 as can be clearly seen in FIGS. 1 and 6.Adjustable parallel foot rests F at the forward extremity of the formedleg rests 19 and 20 provide reflex control balancing. A backrest 22 issecured by a hinge H to the seat 18 and projects up wardly from the seat18 to adjustably support the back of the diver.

An abrasion skid 23 is formed centrally on the bow portion of the hull11 and extends longitudinally thereof to prevent wear on the hull 11. Atransverse bore 24 extends through the forward portion of the skid 23 topermit attachment of tow lines, anchor lines and the like.- A keel 25extends longitudinally of the stem portion of the hull 11 to stabilizethe float 10 as it moves through the water.

A pair of oppositely disposed abutting hinged doors 26 are secured tothe upper enclosure 12 between the seat 18 and the stem 16 to giveaccess to the interior of the float 10. A second pair of hinged abuttingdoors 27 are secured to the bow portion of the upper enclosure 12between the seat 18 and the bow 13 to likewise give access to theinterior of the float 10. A compartment 28 underlies the hinged doors 16to receive a standard (72 cu. ft.) scuba tank and other gear of thediver of such a nature that can be kept in wet storage. A drain port 29extends from the compartment 28 through the hull ll of the float 10. Thewater displaced by the items stored therein is automatically drainedthrough the tube 29. A plug 30 is removably positioned in the bottom ofthe drain bore 29 to permit the compartment 28 to be closed off from thewater should it be desired to use the float 10 with the compartment 28dry.

A watertight compartment 31 closed by a removable watertight lid 32underlies the doors 27 for receiving gear which would be damaged bywater, such as food, cameras and the like. Drain bores 33 open throughthe rear end portion of the upper enclosure 12 to drain water that mighthave collected on the deck D. Drain bores 34 open through the forwardportion of the upper enclosure 12 to drain water that might havecollected on the deck D.

A compartment 36 is positioned within the cockpit 17 forwardly of theseat 18 and centrally of the float 10. The compartment 36 is providedfor the weight belt of the diver so that it will be at the lowestpossible point in the hull 11 and substantially centrally thereof toassist in maintaining an extremely low center of gravity for the float10. The compartment 36 has a drain bore 37 extending therefrom throughthe hull 11 so that the cockpit 17 may be self bailing therethrough.

The area (volumetric space) between the hull 11 and deck D as at 38, 39,40 and 41 is sealed, airtight for flotation purposes and may haveplastic foam flotation material (not shown) contained therein.

A bar 42 extends across the top of the compartment 36 and provides meansfor the attachment of the weight belt to prevent its loss in theeventuality of the craft overturning. Bar 42 further provides a centrallifting handle.

In the use and operation of the invention the diver launches the float10 and seats himself in the cockpit 17 with his gear loaded into thecompartments 28 and 31 and the weight belt in compartment 36. The diverdisplaces all of the water in the cockpit through drain bore 37. He thenpropels the float 10 to the point at which diving is to take place byusing either a double ended oar (not shown) or his two hands. The float10 is anchored at the point of diving and the diver uses it as afloating platform from which to operate. The compartment 28 in additionto containing divers gear, may also be used to contain fish, shells orother items gathered by the diver for return to shore.

While the float 10 has been illustrated as a self-bailing device havinga self-bailing compartment 28 and self-bailing cockpit 17, it can beused in claim waters as a canoe/kayak traveling in the same directionbut slower than the wave action, this slope assists in the propulsion ofthe float 10.

The word scuba, as used in the specification and claims, is a coinedterm meaning self-contained, underwater breathing apparatus.

Having thus described the preferred embodiments of the invention, itshould be understood that numerous structural modifications andadaptions may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

What is claimed is:

l. A skin/scuba divers float comprising a hollow semicircular elongatehull, a hollow semicircular elongate upper enclosure, said hull and saidupper enclosure being secured together along the peripheral meetingedges thereof, a cockpit formed in said float and having a buttocksreceiving seat forming a part thereof, form fitting leg rests forsupporting the full length of the divers leg extending forwardly of saidseat within said cockpit, an adjustable foot rest at the forward end ofeach of said leg rests, and a plurality of compartments opening throughsaid upper enclosure within said float.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein hinged doors on said upperenclosure close said compartments.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein drain bores extend from saidcockpit and said compartments for self-bailing said cockpit and saidcompartments.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein sealed flotation areas areformed within said float surrounding said cockpit and said compartments.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein a divers weight compartment isformed in said cockpit forwardly of said seat between said leg rests.

6. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said hull slopes upwardly andrearwardly at the stern thereof to assist in propelling said float underaction of the waves.

7. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein an adjustable backrest issecured to seat at the upper rear portion thereof.

8. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein at last one of said storagecompartments is centrally positioned rearwardly of said cockpit belowthe water line of said float.

9. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of said storagecompartments is centrally positioned forwardly of said cockpit and iswatertight.

10. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein a central elongate abrasionskid is secured to forward portion of said hull and provided with atransverse bore in its forward end for securing tow lines and anchorlines.

1. A skin/scuba diver''s float comprising a hollow semicircular elongatehull, a hollow semicircular elongate upper enclosure, said hull and saidupper enclosure being secured together along the peripheral meetingedges thereof, a cockpit formed in said float and having a buttocksreceiving seat forming a part thereof, form fitting leg rests forsupporting the full length of the diver''s leg extending forwardly ofsaid seat within said cockpit, an adjustable foot rest at the forwardend of each of said leg rests, and a plurality of compartments openingthrough said upper enclosure within said float.
 2. A device as claimedin claim 1 wherein hinged doors on said upper enclosure close saidcompartments.
 3. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein drain boresextend from said cockpit and said compartments for self-bailing saidcockpit and said compartments.
 4. A device as claimed in claim 1 whereinsealed flotation areas are formed within said float surrounding saidcockpit and said compartments.
 5. A device as claimed in claim 1 whereina diver''s weight compartment is formed in said cockpit forwardly ofsaid seat between said leg rests.
 6. A device as claimed in claim 1wherein said hull slopes upwardly and rearwardly at the stern thereof toassist in propelling said float under action of the waves.
 7. A deviceas claimed in claim 1 wherein an adjustable backrest is secured to seatat the upper rear portion thereof.
 8. A device as claimed in claim 1wherein at last one of said storage compartments is centrally positionedrearwardly of said cockpit below the water line of said float.
 9. Adevice as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of said storagecompartments is centrally positioned forwardly of said cockpit and iswatertight.
 10. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein a centralelongate abrasion skid is secured to forward portion of said hull andprovided with a transverse bore in its forward end for securing towlines and anchor lines.